What Happens After Bunion Surgery?

Your feet hold you up through everything you do. They carry you through work, see you through a long day with the kids and help you with your weekly exercise. It can be startling when you lose your ability to walk, stand or run like you used to. A bunion is when you develop a bony or swollen protrusion either on or around the big toe. These can be caused by a variety of different factors, though at the end of the day the pain is the same. If you find yourself getting this condition over and over again, it’s more than possible you’ll need to look into bunion surgery to prevent further breakouts.

The origin of bunions, the severity of bunion surgery pain and what happens after bunion surgery will all be looked at below to help you out.

What Is A Bunion?

The foot is home to many different minor and major issues that can cause you pain throughout the week. Callouses can form through constant rubbing of your shoe against the skin, while athlete’s foot is caused by a mixture of bacteria and moisture. A bunion is formed when your joint is under severe stress, manifesting as a bony knob that can make walking and standing extremely difficult. The foot is home to 26 bones. In other words, one-quarter of all the bones in your body are in your feet.

How Many People Have Bunions?

Many people develop bunions in adulthood. As many as one-third of American adults are living with bunion deformities that require foot surgery and it’s thought nearly 75% of Americans will experience foot health problems at some point in their life. Studies have also shown women are 10 times more likely than men to develop bunions. Diagnosing whether or not you have a bunion is fairly easy to do, though it’s always recommended you see a doctor to make sure you don’t have another problem developing right under your nose.

What Causes A Bunion?

We are constantly walking, running, standing, kneeling and stretching. After a while all this tension can translate as a painful bunion that has you searching for what happens after bunion surgery. The average adult will take anywhere from 4,000 to 6,000 steps per day, though that amount is generally doubled by day laborers and those who regularly work outside. Most Americans will travel 75,000 miles on their feet by the time they’re 50 years old and 20% of the American population has an average of one foot problem per year. Bunions can also be caused by arthritis or ill fitting shoes.

What Are Other Foot Issues?

You may have more than one foot issue that needs your attention. Hammer toe is a term for a deformity that causes either the second or the third toe to start curling instead of its normal shape. This makes putting on socks or shoes difficult, much less walking like you used to. A study by the American Foot and Ankle Society found as many as 85% of women will wear shoes that are far too small, contributing to foot pain that is ignored to the point of becoming a problem that requires surgery.

What Happens After Bunion Surgery?

When you have reoccurring bunions that don’t seem to go away with new shoes or stretching exercises it may be a problem that needs surgery. One out of 10 Americans will suffer from Plantar Fasciitis at some point and those that have legs of different lengths may see a higher discrepancy in the bunions they have on their feet. What happens after bunion surgery is you’ll be required to stay off your feet for a short amount of time to help recovery. You can also wear specialized shoes to discourage recession of the foot.

Bunions are painful and can affect your everyday life. Instead of living with the pain, a foot doctor can determine whether or not surgery can improve your quality of life.